System for transmitting electric currents to cars.



EATENTBD APR. 2, 1907. LJ. BAGAN.. SYSTEM POR TRANSMITTING ELECTRIC OURRENTS To GARS.

APPLICATION FILE-D DEO. 26. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'mE NoRRls PETERS ce., wAsHlNcraNl D. z:4

= No. 848,730. PATENTED APE. 2, 1907.

l J. J. EAGAN.

SYSTEM EOE TEANSMITTING ELECTRIC -GUEEENTS To GARS.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 26.'1905.

. 2 SHEETS-SHHET 2.

UNITED STATES j IJOHN J. EAGAN, or sAN PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

To @ZZ whom it 11i/ay concern/Ll Be it known that I, JOHN J. EAGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing atv San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems for Transmitting Electric Currents to Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in systems for transmitting electric currents to cars.

The objects of my invention are to provide improved means for transmitting electric currents to cars by which the wear and tear of part of the overhead trolley system heretofore most commonly used is greatly reduced, the wear ofthe copper supply-wire being only where the rod above the car passes under it and by which the wire suspended crosswise above the road or pavement on which the car is operated becomes a medium for the transmission of the current only when the car is passing under it, thereby rendering it free from danger at other times to any person or animal coming in contact with it when it has fallen to the ground upon breaking and by which should one of the supply-wires be broken the operation of the system is not entirely suspended and a car in the position where the wire is broken may be pushed by hand or other means under the wire next above it and the passage of the car resumed. I declare that my said improvements are so described in this specification and so shown in the accompanying drawings that any one skilled in the art to which my invention pertains may make and use the same. My invention consists in suspending the supply-wires transversely to the track instead of longitudinally and in a certain novel arrangement and combination of parts whereby I render the method of so placing such wires an effective means of operating the cars, the whole-constituting my system as expained.

eferring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the invention, showing the outwardly-extending rods in position. Fig. 2 is an end view of the car and showing the transverse feed or supply wire. Fig. 3 is a partial plan of the roof of a car, also showing the extension-rod, the pivot Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. December 26, 1905. Serial No. 293.394.

Patented April 2, 1907.

' of same, and the arc in which it swings. Fig. 4 is an end in elevation of the car, partly broken, showing means for turning the axis and the disconnecting apparatus for same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the pulleys and connecting-belt by means of which the shaft d is connected to the body-bolster of the car. Figs. 6 and 7 are an elevation and plan, respectively, of the disconnecting means. Fig. 8 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, showing the top of the trolley-polewith the extensionarm holding the contact-springs and showing the feed-wire in the position assumed when car is passing under the same. Fig. 9 is a front view in detail of the contact-springs, showing the cross-wire secured therein as in Fig. 8.

In the figures, l represents anysuitable trolley-car having trucks A, a trolley-rod B, having extensions C, pivoted at cf, the axis c2, extending downward through the car and being rigidly attached to the hand-wheel c3, the disk c4, having holes c5 to correspond with holes c6 in the hand-wheel c3, both being connected by the pin c7. A counter-shaft d, having a small grooved pulley, is connected to the pulley f on the body-bolster g by means of the belt h, so that the current cannot be conducted from pulley e to pulley f and thence to the ground. The trolley-rod B is maintained at the correct height by means of the springs b. At the top of the trolley-pole F is an extension-arm 2, carrying an insulator 3, which in turn carries the main feedwire 4. At the bottom of the extension-arm are the contact-springs 5, which form electrical contacts with the cross or supply wire 6, said cross-wire being in contact with the trolley-rod B, thereby permitting theelectric current to flow through the mechanism of the car and through the trucks to the ground or rail in the usual manner. When another car is to be attached, it is very evident that the length of the extension C would interfere with their connection. Consequently it is necessary to move the extensions out of the way. This is done by removing the pin c7 from the hand-wheel c3, thus disconnecting the counter-shaft d from the axis c2, thereby permitting the extension c to be readily moved out of the way by being turned on the axis toward the front of the car.

The axisV IOO c2 is constructed of non-conducting material to prevent the current flowing downward from the trolley-rod B or curved extension C.

That the rod B may readily pass under the wires 6 I provide said rod with extensions C, having the necessary downward curvature at their ends, so that in no event will any of the suspended wires be broken by contact with the trolley-rod B or an axis (l2 though it be somewhat slack.

In order that corners of streets or roadways may be turned without the extensions contacting with the poles F or other stationary objects, I provide means for moving the extensions laterally out of the way by securing such extensions to the axis (J2, which is turned through the intermediate mechanism operated by the turning of the pulley f, secured to the truck, as shown in Fig. 4, and by which truck it is operated.

When the wire is raised by an extension C and the rod B, the same is forced upward into the jaws of contact-springs 5 and thence into the circular oriiice formed by the contact of said jaws, whereby said wire is completely surrounded by the closing of said jaws for the even transmission of the current to the wire. When the wire descends by reason of the passing of the car, the increasing weight of the wirel opens the jaws and the wire falls to its normal position.

When the arm B receives the current, it passes downward through the rod (shown in Fig. 1 as surrounded by the spiral spring b) to the motor on the car.

The poles F should be placed equidistantly on both sides of the road or street on which the car is operated, and the power-wire et, preferably of copper, is secured thereto, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the branch wires for transmitting the current from such powerwire to the contact-springs 5 being also shown in said gures.

By means of the said extensions the car is always receiving the current while in motion, the poles supporting the transverse wires being placed at appropriate distances. i

The arms 2 are secured to an insulator mounted on poles F, and the wires 6 are secured to insulating material 3 on such poles, as shown in Fig. S.

It is understood that while I have illustrated and described the preferred arrangement of my invention, I reserve the right to make all changes which properly fall within its spirit and scope.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a system for transmitting electric currents to cars a wire suspended transversely from poles on both sides of a street or road, springs secured to said poles for grasping said wire when raised, a suspended rod above a car, springs permitting the perpendicular movement of said rod Ypower-wires and means leading to said springs for transmitting the current from the power-wires to said transverse wire, substantially as described.

2. In a system for transmitting electric currents to cars a Wire suspended transversely from poles on both sides of a street or road, springs secured to said poles for grasping said wire when raised, a rod suspended above a car, movable curved extensions to said rod at each end thereof, vertical rods for conducting the electric current into said car, springs permitting the perpendicular movement of said Iirst-named rod power-wires and means leading to said springs for transmitting the current from the power-wires to said transverse wire, substantially as described.

3. In a system for transmitting electric currents to cars a wire suspended transversely from poles on both sides of a street or road, springs secured to said poles for grasping said wire when raised, a rod suspended above a car, movable curved extensions to said rod at each end thereof, vertical rods, pulleys, and connecting means for causing the movement of said extensions by the trucks of said car, vertical rods for conducting the electric current into said car, springs permitting the perpendicular movement of said first-named rod power-wires and means leading to said springs for transmitting the current from the power-wires to said transverse wire, substantially as described.

4. In a system for transmitting electric currents to cars a wire suspended transversely from poles on both sides of a street or road, springs secured to said poles for grasping said wire when raised and arranged to release said wires by the weight thereof, a rod suspended above a car, a movable curved extension to said rod at each end thereof, vertical rods, pulleys, and connecting means for causing the movement of said extensions by the trucks of said car, vertical rods for conducting the electric current into said car, springs permitting the perpendicular movement of said rst-named rod power-wires and me ans leading to said springs for transmitting the current from the power-wires to said transverse wire substantially as described.

5. In a system for transmitting electric currents to cars a longitudinal rod having laterally-movable extensions pivotally connected thereto mounted on a car, said car being supported on trucks, pulleys secured to said trucks, turnably-mounted vertical rods connected to said extensions, vertical rods turnably supported beneath said Erst-named vertical rods and in alinement therewith, pulleys secured at the lower ends of the rods so IOC IIO

turn the pulleys secured to rods as aforesaid..

6. In a system for transmitting electric currents to ears a longitudinal rod, having laterally-movable extensions pivotally oonneeted thereto, mounted on a ear, said ear being supported on trucks arranged for turn- Io ing; a {plurality of turnable vertical rods at each end of the ear arranged for connection and disconnection, and means in'proximity to the base of said ear for the turning of said vertical rods by said trucks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 in presence oi two witnesses.

' JOHN J. EAGAN. Witnesses:

CHARLES GAY, ETHEL GRAHAM. 

